The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-18
GENERAL BADEAU'S LETTER.

The Presidents Message and the Queens
Speech-Grant's First Message to Congress.
| Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-The night after the
| Presidents message delivered to Congress
there CHANGED to be nearly dozen Senators
dining at the same house. and three of these had
been Cabinet ministers Two others of the party
had been Assistant Secretaries of State two
secretaries to President, and there were be-
sides at table, various members of the English
and Canadian governments. The company was
very busy making opinion and comparing ex-
periences. The Americans had assisted at
either the preparation or the delivery of mes
sagss innumerable. and at least of the
Englishmen had been present at the concoction
of speeches from the throne, for he had served
both in Tory and Liberal Cabinets The CONVEX
sation suggested very wildly the difference be-
tween the English and the American methods of
government.
There is, indeed, hardly point that illus
trates more sharply the contrast between our
institutions and the English-the reality that
prevails in our politics and the shams that still
exist in theirs; the simple, rugged power that in
republic one man may WELD and the weakness
that in monarchy is covered up by pomp and
paraphernalia-than the fashion in which the
head of the state addresses the representatives
of the nation. The message Of tie President is
sent to Congress by private secretary. in plain
morning clothes, who announces his errsnd and
departs, after which the document is read aloud
by the proper officer with formality
than any other paper receives. The speech OF
the Queen of England is delivered either by
her Majesty in person from the tn rome. clad in
her royal robes, and surrounded by the highest
officers of state, or it is read for her by the Lord
Chancellor in his ermine and antiqusted gauds,
and amid elaborate ceremonies.
Each is important document of state, and
often announces the intentions of the govern
ment, or appeals to the party that sustains the
country. But the President. if he chooses, is
the sole author of his message, while the speech
is invariably written for the Queen. The Prime
Minister decides what shall be the language and
doctrine of the sovereign's utterance. He, in
deed, submits the draft to her Majesty a mat
of form, but his will not hers, is paramount
when they differ; and If Victoria does some |
times procure a modification of the expressions,
or possibly. in rare instances. of the opinions |
that go forth as her own, she must argue with |
her Minister, and convince him first, just as here |
a minister must argue with the President If he |
wishes to affect his views.
The English speech is usually the production |
of the Prime Minister, but 1t is read in Cabinet.
where suggestions are admissible; though in the |
days OF such autocrats as Beaconsheld or Glad
stone, the Premier laid down the policy and his |
colleagues submitted or resigned; they rarely |
changed the determination of the chief when il |
was already formed After the Cabinet has bad |
IT'S sav-not its wav-the naner is taker to the
Queen, who except III unusual circumstances. |
accepts it as it is offered. There have been |
times when Majesty pleaded hard for change, |
but obliged to yield, even, it is said. in |
tears-for Majesty has very decid ed views in |
politics; but if the Minister is firm there is
alternative, except to dismiss the Minister. And |
dismiss a Minister with large majority at |
his back is impossibility nowadays for an |
English sovereign; it might mean revolution, |
and Majesty prefers the throne to the speech |
from the throne
OF late the Queen has seldom delivered her
speech in person. though in her earlier years she
used read it with rhetorical effect She has
opened Parliament only twice since the
death of the Prince Consort, and then always
when the Tories have been in power to indicate
her sympathy Bat when she has gone
thus far she remains silent on the throne, and
the Lord Chancellor reads the speech for her; so
that much of the interest Of the ceremony 10
lost
But the English are as anxious to know the
contents of the speech as Americans 10 learn in
advance what the message will declare; and on
the night before Parliament Is opened there Is
usually a great dinner at the Premers house.
and afterward general reception. to which all
the important people of his own party, and often
a few of the other, are asked and to these the
speech is read before it Is delivered. Sometimes
it Is even printed in a favored newspaper before
it is heard in Parliament
Presidents. of late years, has been more reti-
cent than this, and not made known beforehand
what they meant to say, even to their close ad-
herents. much less to the world at large. They
usually. however, consult their Cabinets and
take summaries from each minister Oh what he
wishes mbodied in the message, while the Sec
rotary OF State. who holds position nearer that
of the English Premier than any of his col
leagues, has often much to do with the making
construction of the message. The portion re-
out entirely in the State Department, and ac-
cepted by the President without a change.
When General Grant wrote his first message
to Congress was on duty at the White House,